Differences between Resume vs CV

Published on 2018-09-02 03:51:11. by Bonnie J. Coulter

Applying for a job requires either a resume or a CV. It usually depends on the type of jobs and where you live. However, when the employer asks for a CV instead of a resume when all you have made is a resume, you might find it difficult to finish because you think these two are the same. CV and resume are indeed almost similar, but there are still some differences. If you don’t know what the differences are, here are some of them to help you write a great resume or CV depending on your job application need.
CV covers more areas
Compared to resume, CV is wider in the areas included because it doesn’t only contain a Summary Statement, Work History, Special Skills and Awards, but it also contains many other areas depending on what the employer requires such as Academic Research, Certifications, List of References and Relevant Course Work. More than that, there are still some other areas that should be covered if your employer requests them. Make sure your CV contains everything requested to make you qualified. Resume covers only related information about the job while CV covers the whole history of your past work experiences and education. This is why CV is simpler to write since it can be used for different types of jobs without needing to format it.
CV is Generally Longer
Since CV covers more areas than resume, then it is usually longer. If you have worked for a long time in the field you can even spend 20 pages just for a CV. This is because a CV is more detailed and completed. It should cover everything related with the field so that the employer can see how great you are as a candidate. An extensive list of skills and experiences are required to make you a strong candidate. You can check the instructions from the employer about what should be included in your CV because they usually contain very specific information. Resume, on the other hand, is shorter because it has only one or two pages. It is not as detailed nor as specific as CV.
CV or Resume
Since these two things contain almost similar information, then you might question about which one you should use. As has been said before, which one to use depends on where you live. American and Canadian usually prefer a resume instead of a CV in job applications while CV is used in New Zealand, Ireland and UK. However, Americans and Canadians sometimes use CV for international jobs while resume is never used in New Zealand, Ireland and UK. Europeans prefer CV and it is used widely for all types of jobs.
So, if your employer asks for a resume or CV, you can just write it easily, but it will take a lot of time to write a CV than a resume. However, resume is harder to finish because you need to sort your skills to choose the most relevant ones and include them in your resume for making you standout.